Spinning top with aids for spinning and lashing the same



Nov. 14, 1967 v PELKOWSKI- SPINNING TOP WITH AIDS FOR SPINNING AND LASHING THE SAME Filed July 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l SZan/ey 7%l/ rowski ATTDRNE s.

PELKOWSKI 3,352,055 SPINNING TOP WITH AIDS FOR SPINNING Nov. 14, 1.96.7

AND LASHING THE SAME v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26, 1965 INVENTOR Stanley el/vousk I ATTURNE .5.

United States Patent 3,352,055 SPINNING TOP WITH AIDS FOR SPINNING AND LASHING THE SAME Stanley Pelkowski, 607B Britten St., Elizabeth, NJ. 07202 Filed July 26, 1965, Ser. No. 474,704 1 Claim. (CI. 46-70) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A spinning toy with novel top spinning means which may be very quickly and easily assembled in position for imparting torque to the top by a manually actuated flexible member or cord and wherein the flexible member or cord additionally functions to retain the top in its supporting bearing or journal until the required torque has been transmitted thereto by the flexible member. A propeller is provided to facilitate removal of the top from its bearing or journal.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a spinning top with aids for spinning and lashing the top.

An important object of the invention is to provide a spinning top assembly including a journal and support in which the top is supported while a torgue is imparted thereto and from which the revolving top is thereafter discharged to spin on any suitable supporting surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of top and top spinning means which may be very quickly and easily assembled in a position for imparting torque to the top by a manually actuated flexible member or cord and wherein the flexible member or cord additionally functions to retain the top in its supporting bearing or journal until the required torgue has been transmitted thereto by the flexible member.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a top of this type with separate spinning and lashing means.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a spinning top embodying a modified form of the invention, parts being ning and lashing aid in disassembled relation.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View of the parts shown in FIG. 1 in assembled relation, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2, the top being shown in displaced spinning position in dash lines.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view wherein the top is shown being lashed to keep it spinning.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a spinning top embodying a modified form of the invention, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view thereof, parts being shown in section.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a spinning top embodying another modified form of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a spinning top embodying yet another modified form of the invention, showing a modified type of spinning aid.

Referring now more in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. 1 a spinning top embodying one lCe form of the invention is shown and designated generally at 10. The spinning top 10 comprises a solid tapered body 12 of wood, plastic or other suitable material, having an inwardly slanting shoulder portion 14 and a flat top surface 16. A pin or post 22 is suitably fixed at one end to the wide end of the body and is provided with a rounded spinning point 20'. A stem 18 extends upwardly from the center of the flat top surface 16 and serves as a handle for manipulating the top.

The invention contemplates improved means for spinning and lashing the top to keep it spinning. For this purpose, an elongated wooden or plastic stick 24 with a body 26 round in cross-section and flattened at one end as indicated at 28 is provided. The flattened end is formed with a round hole 30 formed with a notch 32 intersecting one side edge 34 of the flattened end. An elongated whip 36 having a handle 38 with an elongated flexible cord 40 secured at one end to one end of the whip as indicated at 41 cooperates with the stick 24 in spinning the top. At the other end, the whip 36 is formed with an integral, elongated flexible cord lash 42 for lashing the top while spinning in order to keep the top spinning.

In use, the free end of the cord 40 on stick 36 is wound around the depending pin or post 22 of the top, starting adjacent the bottom free end of the pin or post with the convolutions superimposed one above the other along the pin or post as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The stick 24 is grasped by the operator with one hand and held so that it is substantially on a horizontal plane. The top with the cord 40 wound therearound is then inserted through the hole 30 in the flattened end of the stick 24 with the pin or post 22 extending below the stick and with the tapered body 12 of the top seated on the top surface of the flattened end 28 over the hole 30 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the dimension of the diameter of the hole 30 and the shape of the top body permitting this operation. When the top is thus positioned, the reach 44 of the cord 40 passes through the notch 32 in the hole30. With the top and cord 40 thus positioned as shown in FIG. 3, a quick sharp pull is exerted on the stick 36 with the other hand in the direction of the arrow 46 shown in FIG. 3 which is transversely of the axis of the pin or post 22 so that a torque or rotation is imparted to the top 10. The quicker and more forceful the pull which is exerted on the cord 40, the greater will be the speed of rotation imparted to the top 10. After the cord 40 has been entirely unwound and withdrawn from the hole 30 by the pull exerted thereon, the top will be revolving at a high rate of speed, supported by the top surface of the flattened end 28 around the hole 30 in the stick 24. By then tilting the flattened end 28 of the stick downwardly slightly, the top will jump out of the hole 30' as shown by the arrow 48 in FIG. 3 and will land on its pin or post 22 on the horizontal supporting surface, such as the floor 50 shown in FIG. 4, and continue to spin on its spinning point 20 in a conventional manner until its speed of rotation diminishes to an extent that it will no longer be maintained in an upright position. However with the aid of the lash cord 42 the top before becoming exhausted may be given further spinning motion by lashing the post 22 of the top with the free end of the lash cord 42 as shown in FIG. 4. Proper whipping of the top with the cord 42 will cause the top to spin indefinitely.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, a modified form of spinning top assembly 10' is shown. The top proper is constructed similar to top 10 of FIG. 1 having a tapered body 12, slanting shoulder 14', and flat top surface 16'. A pin or post 18 depends from the wide bottom end of the body, and a stem 22' extends upwardly from the center of the top surface. A propeller 54 however is mounted on the top of the stem 22, and wings or ribs 56 radiate in spaced relation from the outer surface of the pin or post 18. The stick 24 which serves as a handle is flattened for its entire length and at one end is enlarged as indicated at 5 8. A hole 30' is formed in the enlarged end 58 of the stick. A bore 6 extends through the center of the stick or handle 24 and intersects a recess 62 formed in the bottom surface of the stick adjacent the hole 30'. A hole 64 is formed in the top surface of the stick communicating with the recess 62. A ball bearing 66 is fitted in the hole 30' in the enlarged end of the stick for supporting the ribbed pin or post 18'. A toothed wheel 68, with an integral stub shaft 70 extending loosely through the hole 64 in the :stick 24' and depending below the bottom surface of the stick, seats on the top surface of the stick or handle 24, with its teeth 72 meshing with the ribs 56 on the pin or post 18'. The bottom of the shaft 70 is formed with a head 74.

In use, a flexible cord 40' is threaded through the bore 60 in stick 24 and wound around the stub shaft 70' of the toothed wheel 6-8 in the recess 62 with one end of the cord threaded through a hole 76 formed in the shaft 70. When a quick sharp outward pull is exerted on the cord '40, the toothed wheel 68 is spun around which motion :is transmitted to the top 10' by means of the teeth 72 on the wheel and the meshing ribs 56. The top is thus rotated :smoothly and speedily on the ball bearing 66, the propeller :54 rotating at the same time.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, modified means for lashing the top '10 shown in FIGS. and 6 is shown. This means includes a flexible lash cord 42" integral with the end of a whip 36". Circular washer members 82 are sleeved along the cord 42" at spaced intervals. When the ribbed post 18 of the top is whipped by means of the cord 42" and the cord pulled along the post, washers 82 engage and mesh with the ribs 56 on the post 18' thereby giving the top further spinning motion. Proper whipping of the post with the cord 42" will cause the top to spin indefinitely.

In FIG. 9, another modified form of spinning top 10a is illustrated with modified form of means for spinning the top. The top 10a includes a circular plate 86 of metal, plastic or other suitable material With a central hole 88. An elongated round stem 90 extends through the hole 88 extending on both sides of the plate. The portion of the stem 90 below the plate 86 is enlarged as indicated at 92 for a portion of its length on which enlargement there is a spiral thread 94. The bottom end of the stem is pointed constituting a spinning point 96 for the top.

For spinning the top 10a, an elongated flat stick 24a is provided. The stick has an internally threaded hole 30a formed in one end thereof, which hole intersects a slot or notch 32a formed in the end edge of the stick.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In combination with a top having a tapered body and a post depending from the wide end of the body, said post having spaced ribs therealon'g, a stem extending upwardly from the narrow end of the body, and flexible means for imparting rotation to the body, a top holder comprising an elongated flat stick, having a hole in one end thereof, ball bearing fitted in said hole, and having an aperture of a size for receiving the depending post of said tapered body, said stick having a recess in one side thereof adjacent the hole therein, and having a central bore through the body thereof intersecting said recess, said stick having a hole in the other side thereof communicating with said recess, a shaft extending'through said hole and extending below the one side of the stick, a toothed wheel integral with the upper end of the shaft seated on the surface of said other side of the stick, the teeth of said wheel meshing with the ribs on the post, and a flexible cord extending through the bore of the stick, the inner end of the cord wound around the shaft mounting the toothed wheel whereby upon pulling on the free end of the cord a torque is imparted to the shaft wheel and post on the tapered body for spinning said top, a propeller on the top end of the stem, whereby upon spinning of the body, the body is lifted out of the ball bearing and deposited on a flat supporting surface, and a whip for imparting a force to said top while it is spinning on the supporting surface to cause said top to continue to spin, including an elongated lash cord having circular washers spaced therealong, said lash cord adapted to be pulled across the ribs on the depending post of the tapered body and transmit force to said body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,295,929 3/1919 Rowland 46-67 2,534,538 12/ 0 Thoresen 4672 FOREIGN PATENTS 614,330 2/1961 Canada. 766,329 11/1934 France.

F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner. R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner. 

